How much do you spend on formula a month?

[MommyKatie]

Hi everyone. I am due March 19th & am considering bottle feeding this baby. I breastfed my first two, but I am having a very very rough time in my life & just don't think I can handle breasfeeding. No one seems to be taking me seriously though and so no one will answer my questions. Can you please help me? I'd like to know:

How much do you spend on formula each month?
Did you spend less in the beginning or is it about the same each month?
What brand formula do you use?
Have you ever used generic formula? I heard it's mostly all the same besides cost? Is that true?
Is it really SO hard to wash and make bottles like everyone makes it out to be?
Do you make all your formula up in the morning & leave it in the fridge throughout the day or do you make it one bottle at a time?
What do you do when you go out? Is there really a whole bunch more to carry?
Anything else? Other tips/advice?

I'm trying to get as much info as I can here so I can make my final decision. TIA!!!! I really appreciate it!!

[metta4]

I attempted to BF both my son's..Duncan for almost 6 weeks and Iain for less then a week (I wasn't planning on it but was majorly guilted into it at the hospital..once I got home I just couldn't do it)

How much do you spend on formula each month? Well we spent lots b/c our kids both had reflux (even when bf). Duncan was on soy and Iain was on Alimentum

Did you spend less in the beginning or is it about the same each month?
I would say less in the beginning b/c the baby doesn't eat as much.

What brand formula do you use? We tried all the brands I think and various types in each brand until we found the right one. Lots of my friends have had better luck then us and found the right one right away. Duncan was on Enfamil Prosorbee and Iain was on Similac Aliementum

Have you ever used generic formula? I heard it's mostly all the same besides cost? Is that true? Nope...never used

Is it really SO hard to wash and make bottles like everyone makes it out to be? NO!!! We threw outs in the dishwasher and all was good.


Do you make all your formula up in the morning & leave it in the fridge throughout the day or do you make it one bottle at a time? Both the kids required the ready to feed formula (b/c of a sensitivity to corn that is in the powder) so we just poured the ready to feed stuff as need. The ready to feed is VERY expensive. If you are trying to save $$ go with the powder. You can premix and put the formula in a container in the friedge. Just be sure to note when it "expires" as formula is usually good only for 24 once mixed (some might be 48...check the can). My SIL used to measure out the piweder and have ther bottles for the day all lined up on the counter so all she had to do was add water and mix.

What do you do when you go out? Is there really a whole bunch more to carry? No...a bottle and a baggie or container with the formula mix. If you like you can carry a bottle of water too...

Anything else? Other tips/advice?

If you do formula feed..sign up yourself, your spouse, family etc for the coupons that formula companies send out. Ask friends who bf if they have any coupons you can have...one friend has exclusively bf and given me all her coupons on her last 2 kids...and for some reason she has gotten lots of them.

Don't feel guilted or like less of a mom if you choose not to bf. I had the best of intentions with DS #1 but after 4 plus weeks of double yeast infection in both breasts that would not resond to medication etc and would cause so much pain I would cry while bf because it felt like slivers of glass going into my breasts,...I realized that my pain and being so unhappy was not good for my baby either.

Remember you are the one making the decision here and need to do what will make for a happy mom and baby...

Hugs to you and best of luck in making the decision ...trust yourself to make the right one and you will

[Claar]

How much do you spend on formula each month? I'd say about $15 a week (but Dutch prizes could be different)
Did you spend less in the beginning or is it about the same each month? Less because they drink less
What brand formula do you use? Nutrilon
Have you ever used generic formula? I heard it's mostly all the same besides cost? Is that true? Nope never tried it - am not sure whether they're all the same
Is it really SO hard to wash and make bottles like everyone makes it out to be? Making bottles is easy esp if you do it before baby starts "screaming" for food. Washing takes time but I have five bottles (one for each feed) and handwash them once a day, sterilize them once a week. Dishwasher works also, I just think it is less clean
Do you make all your formula up in the morning & leave it in the fridge throughout the day or do you make it one bottle at a time? One at a time, sometimes ahead of time
What do you do when you go out? Is there really a whole bunch more to carry? Depends where and how long - I usually bring just one prepared bottle in the diaper bag, I also have a small container that holds three portions of formula and I fill the bottle with mineral / cooked water. If I stay somewhere overnight I bring the formula box and clean bottles
Anything else? Other tips/advice? Do NOT feel guilty (or at least try not to, I know how hard it is) over this decision, it is yours to take. With dd#1 I expressed and bottle fed for three months - it meant a double shift and was SO exhausting. I just bf'd dd#2 for 3 months and am -again- sad but also so relieved now that it is over... When bf'ing you also have to carry stuff and prepare (in my case nipple protectors, pump, bottles for expressed milk, a towel for spills, bra pads, extra pillow) and it is physically much more draining (literally).

[Hoya]

How much do you spend on formula each month? Probably ~$70 per month
Did you spend less in the beginning or is it about the same each month? Less early on, since she didn't drink as much, then her intake increased, then with the addition of lots of solids, she started taking less forumla again.
What brand formula do you use? We've been using Similac Advance (the powder mix)
Have you ever used generic formula? I heard it's mostly all the same besides cost? Is that true? Haven't tried. There probably isn't much difference. The only thing is, you should generally find one brand and stick with it, so if you're going to go with generic, stick with the same generic. One advantage to brand names is the variety in packages.... Similac, for example, can be bought in single-serve powder packets, which I keep in the diaper bag for outings, and you can also get single-serve ready-to-feed-liquid (though my DD doesn't like the pre-mix liquid as much, and it's more expensive).
Is it really SO hard to wash and make bottles like everyone makes it out to be? NO!!! We throw it all in the dishwasher, and I have enough bottles so that we only have to run the dishwasher every other day.
Do you make all your formula up in the morning & leave it in the fridge throughout the day or do you make it one bottle at a time? I make them one bottle at a time. Seems fresher that way. Plus, I use warm water to begin with, so no need to warm up the bottle.
What do you do when you go out? Is there really a whole bunch more to carry? I have a nice thin, tall all-metal thermos that I keep hot water in that goes in the diaper bag. Plus I take a spoon to mix, and I keep a few zip-lock baggies-- one for dirty bottles, etc., and one with a couple of clean bottles. Truly not a big deal - all fits easily in the diaper bag and is not heavy.


Good luck! For me, switching to formula was a breath of fresh air, since my preemie DD was not able to breastfeed (despite many attempts with a great lactation consultant).... before switching to formula at ~4 months (gradual transition), I was pumping around the clock, storing the breast milk (fridge if to be used within 24 hours, else freezer), then warming up each serving to bottle feed, and sterilizing everything (breast pump parts, bottles, nipples, etc.), since she was so small and delicate. Formula feeding saved sooooo much time!!!
Also, as was already recommended above, definitely sign up for coupons if you go with a major brand. I've got dozens and dozens of $5 off coupons from Similac which are fabulous!!! ($70 month price estimate per month above was based on full-price, but shopping at Costco, where they have jumbo cans of powder) I mostly use the coupons for the single-serve powder packet boxes.

[Lisa JD]

How much do you spend on formula each month?

** I spend about $40 a month .. each tin costs $16.95 here. We do 2.5 tins over 4 weeks.

Did you spend less in the beginning or is it about the same each month?

** less earlier yes.

Is it really SO hard to wash and make bottles like everyone makes it out to be?

** NOWAY! easy peasy

Do you make all your formula up in the morning & leave it in the fridge throughout the day or do you make it one bottle at a time?

** depends on my mood. I like to make fresh bottles. Definatley have them all prepared for the day in those 1st 6 weeks .. so you just get up at 2am grab the bottle and wella.


What do you do when you go out? Is there really a whole bunch more to carry?

** nope .. just a bottle in a holder and a little container with the amount of formula needed for that bottle. so easy!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

[Liz-at-home]

How much do you spend on formula each month? $300 per month for the first six months of hypoallergenic formula RTF (ready-to-feed) then $120 per month on Nestle Good Start RTF. It would have been much, much, cheaper had my kids been able to tolerate a standard, powdered formula.

Did you spend less in the beginning or is it about the same each month? It costs less at first because a newborn eats fewer ounces per day than an older baby. In my case though, a hypoallergenic formula was required for the first 6 months and that gets expensive

What brand formula do you use? Both my boys required hypoallergenic formulas for milk protein sensitivity. I fed Nutramagin powdered, Alimentum RTF, and Good Start RTF.

Have you ever used generic formula? I heard it's mostly all the same besides cost? Is that true? No, I haven't used generic.

Is it really SO hard to wash and make bottles like everyone makes it out to be? I thought it was easy, especially with DH helping. No big deal.

Do you make all your formula up in the morning & leave it in the fridge throughout the day or do you make it one bottle at a time? I would make a whole pitcher at a time then transfer it to bottles and put them the fridge. The label will say how long you can store mixed formula, which is usually 24 hours or so.

What do you do when you go out? Is there really a whole bunch more to carry? Just a small bottle bag with an ice pack. The bag itself fits easily into my diaper bag and holds two 9 oz bottles full of formula. There are single serving bottles of RTF formula that don't require refrigeration until opened. Those handly on vacation.

Anything else? Other tips/advice? Don't let anyone bully you or guilt you into doing what *they* want you to do. Do what *you* want and it will definitely be the right choice.